In continuing with the post, “why didn’t we buy in the BVI” I will finish off the story with a comparative look at the cost (note: just the property itself, I did not include the taxes or other costs) of purchasing a home or property in the British Virgin Islands. In fairness to the BVI, I decided to evaluate housing and land prices for three of the places Terrie and I had considered making our permanent home, which are the BVI, Nicaragua, and Culebra. Additionally, for those looking to maybe purchase in one of these three places I thought it would give folks a ballpark idea of what the prices are like.
Entries from June 2007 ↓
Why Didn’t You Buy In The BVI? - part 2
June 29th, 2007 — British Virgin Islands, Buying overseas, Culebra
Where the heck is Culebra?
June 27th, 2007 — Culebra
The email that I sent yesterday to let everyone know we are moving to Culebra to run the Palmetto Guesthouse produced quite a few responses that all asked the same question - Where the Heck is Culebra? It was such a common theme that I thought I would give the answer in a quick post, which will supersede part 2 of “Why we didn’t buy in the BVI?”
Why Didn’t You Buy In The BVI?
June 25th, 2007 — British Virgin Islands, Buying overseas
This morning I was asked by a colleague, “if you and Terrie have been in living in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) for four years why didn’t you just buy something here?” and the question made me think that other people might have the same inquiry. Honestly, I would have to say there were roughly three or four major issues and a multitude of other seemingly inconsequential reasons but when they’re compounded together also factored into our decision to buy elsewhere. Today we will focus on cost.
Closing on the Palmetto Guesthouse
June 22nd, 2007 — Buying overseas, Guesthouse purchase, Palmetto Guesthouse
You may have noticed from the brief [June 20] post below, it is now official, as of June 20, 2007 we own the Palmetto Guesthouse on Culebra. Remember, this post ONLY discusses the closing, so as you read through and get near the end of the day and you see how we have to race around keep in mind that we have had NINE months of this. Also, although I make light of the situation below this purchase would have never have happened if it was not for the efforts of our attorney, Ignacio, Sara at Metro Island Mortgage, Joe, and Sandra Wagner of Blue Horizon Realty who stuck with us when most other realtors would have been laughing at us. If you are looking to buy on Culebra we highly recommend her. Post starts now.
Adjusting to Life Overseas
June 21st, 2007 — Living overseas
This morning I was sitting at the Road Town Bakery here in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and there were some very jolly cruise ship visitors sitting at the table next to me commenting on the chickens running all around them and discussing the oppressive heat. When they noticed I had a BVI government shirt on they asked the question I seem to get quite regularly, “you live here?” and followed up with the customary “you must love it!” Well, today I was in a particularly good mood because we closed on the Culebra property yesterday so I did my best to explain that while, yes the BVI’s are a great place to live, it does come with certain challenges. When I was done, I am not actually sure they “got” it.
We Own The Palmetto Guesthouse
June 20th, 2007 — Guesthouse purchase, Palmetto Guesthouse
After a very long day which started at 4:00a.m. Terrie and I finally own the boutique lodging on Culebra know as the Palmetto Guesthouse. It seems really strange and somewhat surreal to think that we are now homeowners and business owners, or business owners and homeowners, depending on how you choose to look at it. However, when I catch a glimpse of the monthly mortgage and hazard insurance payments, I get snapped back to reality very quickly.
Four Islands In Ten Years (part 3)
June 19th, 2007 — Moving
British Virgin Islands
Part three of our Four Islands In Ten Years tour has us leaving American Samoa in August of 2003 when Terrie was offered a teaching job on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands and I was offered a job with the BVI government doing more Geographic Information System development work. Having been to the BVI on our honeymoon in 1995, and due to the fact that all of our family is located on the east coast of the US, it was a pretty easy decision (although monetarily we faced a huge decrease in pay) to leave American Samoa. In August of 2003 we boarded a plane once again and made the move to Tortola, British Virgin Islands where we have been for the past four years.
Four Islands In Ten Years (part 2)
June 18th, 2007 — Moving
American Samoa
In continuing with the Four Islands In Ten Years story part two begins when, after leaving Papua New Guinea and the Peace Corps, we returned to Massachusetts for a yearlong respite so that Mark could finish his Masters degree at Clark University. While we were in Massachusetts a great deal of our time was spent researching numerous countries and locations trying to figure out where on earth we would go next to escape the snow and cold. So, when a serendipitous email from the American Samoa government arrived very close to graduation time looking for a planner it only made sense to apply.